Jack Kirkpatrick grew up in Post, playing football for the Antelopes during high school. He received several honors, including All-State and All-American Nominee, during his senior year in football.
Jack’s first year as an Antelope in high school was his eighth-grade year when the championship team played Phillips in the regional game in Amarillo. Jack said, “Those big ole boys gave us an education.” He did not play in that game, but his older brother K.W. was a junior on the team.
As quarterback during his four years of high school, he made many touchdowns, running and passing to other Antelopes. In his senior year, the Antelopes played nine games. They started with a roaring win over the Crosbyton Chiefs 39 – 7. At Floydada the following week, Kirkpatrick made the only score with Post winning 6 – 0.
Starting district play with Ralls was a close game. Ralls went ahead, but Kirkpatrick passed to L. W. Evans to tie the score. The teams took turns scoring, but in the end, Ralls beat Post by one point, 21-20.
Over at Tahoka the next week, the Bulldogs were ready and willing for the win of 20 – 6.
From the 1952 Caprock Annual, “The Post boys did not know whether to be ducks or Antelopes because the field was covered with water, which soon became mud.” This was in the ‘hole’ at Spur. The boys must have liked the mud because they won by two points, 15 -13.
The season’s final game was the best because it was and is with our rival, Slaton. The Tigers suited up 55 guys to come at us, but like many other years, the Antelopes did what they wanted to with those Tigers. The Kirkpatrick – Evans connection put three touchdowns on the board, J. R. Potts ran for two TDs up the middle, and Kirkpatrick ran around the end for another. The final score was 40 -7, with the Antelopes on top.
In Kirkpatrick’s senior year, he received many honors. He was co-captain, All-District ’50 & ’51, All-Regional ’50, All-State ’51, All-American Nominee ’51-, and four-year letterman as the quarterback.
A scholarship at Texas Technological College in Lubbock awaited Kirkpatrick. During his first year, he played half-back and defensive back.
During our interview, Jack received a phone call from Dewayne West telling him he was meeting Joey McGuire next week and gave an update on a hospitalized former teammate.
Following the call, Jack said, “Dewayne was my center for the three years while I played in the quarterback position.”
It’s incredible how one develops a friendship with the players you are on the field with daily, making a mark in history.
Jacklaughedandsaid,“West was a 175-pound center, and I was a 172-pound quarterback when we started our careers together at Tech facing Oklahoma State (OSU).”
Jack scored two touchdowns and three extra points during that game.
In 1953, during Jack’s sophomore year at Tech, records were set. The Border Conference included Tech, UTEP, Arizona, New Mexico State, and West Texas State. Tech started the season unranked but moved up from 19th in November to 12th when they faced Auburn in the Gator Bowl on January 1, 1954.
Kirkpatrick said, “We didn’t even know where or who Auburn was, and they had never heard of Texas Tech.”
Auburn was ranked 17th at the start of the game. The Tigers soon learned who the Red Raiders were. Tech won the game 35 – 13. jack set a record that lasted many years with five extra points in that game and was named Most Valuable Player in the Border Conference that year.
Tech started out the 1954 season, ranked 19th when they beat A&M 419. After losing to LSU 2013 they dropped out of the Top 20 in the AP poles. Tech tied OSU but won the conference but did not get a bowl game offer.
1955 started out with a win over Texas placing Tech 12th in the AP poles but the next week TCU blanked them 32-0 which knocked them out of the poles again. They tied UTEP but still won the conference again that year. They were asked to the Sun Bowl in El Paso on January 2, 1956. They played Wyoming losing 21-14. This was the last game Kirkpatrick played for Tech.
In 1971 Kirkpatrick was named to the Hall of Fame at Texas Tech.
Continued next week is Jack’s life in Post.